WEBVTT N $1BILLION JUST TO KEEP MEDICAIDBENEFITS AT ITS CURRENT LEVEL.THEEMERGENCY IF THE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE ACT STANDS.THE PROPOSAL CUTS FUNDING FORMEDICAID BY 80 500 BILLION --$85 BILLION.OR 10%.ACCORDING TO AN ANALYSI AMONGIF THE STATE INTENDS TO KEEPMEDICAID BENEFITS TO CURRENTLEVELS, IT WILL BE ON THE HOOKFOR $145 MILLION IN FISCALYEAR 2020, 696 POINT MILLION INFISCAL YEAR 2021, AND MORE THAN$1 BILLION IN FISCAL BALTIMORE2022.CITY MAY BE AFFECTEDDISPORTIONALLY.HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY 2/3RDS -- TWO THIRDS OF THE CITYCHILDREN DEPEND ON MEDICAID,HALF OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN USEIT.SENIORS DEPEND ON MEDICAID FORPRESCRIPTIONS, HEARING AIDS,GLASSES AND NURSING HOME CARE ITAND IT COVERS TREATMENT FOR DRUGMISUSE.>> CHILDREN'S HEALTH WILLSUFFER, WOMEN'S HEALTH WILLSUFFERENTIRE FAMILIES AND OLDER ADULTSWILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORDPRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS AND WEARE GOING TO SEE A DECLINE INHEALTH OVERALL.DAVID AS OF MARCH THIS YEAR, 1.2: MILLION MARYLAND RESIDENTS AREENROLLED IN MEDICAID.STATE OFFICIALS SAY THOSE ROLLSGREW BY 302,692 PEOPLE SINCE THEAFFORDABLE CARE ACT BECAME LAW.>> I DO THINK MARYLAND WILL MAKEUP SOME OF THE GAP.BUT I DON'T THINK THEY CANPOSSIBLY MAKE UP ALL OF THE GADAVID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: PASSED BILLS DESIGNED TO BLUNTTHE IMPACT OF FEDERAL POLICIESINCLUDING CHANGES TO HEALTHCARE.GOVERNOR HOGAN LET A BILL GOINTO LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATUREREQUIRING FUNDING FOR PLANNEDPARENTHOOD IF IT LOSES FEDERALDOLLARS.>> IN MARYLAND WOMEN WILL, CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO USE AMEDICAID CARD AT PLANNEDPARENTHOODDAVID NEITHER THE GOVERNOR'S: PRESS OFFICE NOR HIS HEALTHSECRETARY RESPONDED TO OURINQUIRIES ABOUT THE PROPOSEDCUTS IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR

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The proposal cuts federal funding for Medicaid by $880 billion, or by 25 percent, over 10 years.

According to an analysis by the Maryland Department of Legislative Services, if the bill stands, Maryland will be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to more than $1 billion just to keep Medicaid benefits at their current level.

According to the DLS, if the state intends to keep Medicaid benefits at current levels, it will need to pay $145.7 million in fiscal year 2020, $696.6 million in fiscal year 2021 and $1.092 billion in fiscal year 2022.

Baltimore City may be affected disproportionally. Health officials said two-thirds of city children there depend on Medicaid, and half of pregnant women use it. Seniors depend on Medicaid for prescriptions, hearing aids, glasses and nursing home care, and it covers treatment for drug misuse.

"Children's health will suffer. Women's health will suffer. Entire families and older adults will not be able to afford prescription medications, and we are going to see a decline in health overall," Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said.

As of March, 1.2 million Maryland residents are enrolled in Medicaid. State officials said those rolls grew by 302,692 people since the Affordable Care Act became law.

"I do think Maryland will make up some of the gap, but I don't think they can possibly make up all of the gap," said Jonathan Weiner, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The General Assembly passed bills designed to blunt the impact of federal policies, including changes to health care. Gov. Larry Hogan let a bill go into law without his signature that requires funding for Planned Parenthood if it loses federal funding.

"In Maryland, women will continue to be able to use a Medicaid card at Planned Parenthood," said Karen J. Nelson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Maryland.

Neither the governor's press office nor his health secretary responded to WBAL-TV 11's inquiries about the proposed cuts in federal funding for Medicaid.